Blue Jackets claim 5-1 victory over listless Blackhawks

Kent Johnson scored twice and Zach Werenski tallied once in a three-point outing to lead the host Columbus Blue Jackets to a 5-1 victory over the slumping Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.

Denton Mateychuk and Adam Fantilli also scored for the Blue Jackets, who snapped a four-game winless skid and have beat the Blackhawks in five consecutive meetings.

Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins made 27 saves and Dmitri Voronkov collected two assists.

Craig Smith scored for the Blackhawks, who have just one victory in their last six games. Goalie Petr Mrazek stopped 16 shots.

Johnson opened the scoring at the 4:10 mark when he grabbed a loose puck just inside the blueline, went to the slot and ripped a shot home.

Johnson doubled the Columbus lead 72 seconds into the second period with another long wrist shot, a top-corner rocket. The 2021 fifth overall draft pick has netted 19 goals this season as he aims for his first career 20-goal campaign.

The performance marked the fourth time Johnson has scored twice in a game as he searches for his first career hat trick.

Smith put the visitors on the board with a power-play goal of his own at 4:53 of the middle frame, converting with a deflection of Alex Vlasic's high point shot.

However, Mateychuk restored the Columbus two-goal lead at 12:42 of the period. He grabbed the puck in the neutral zone, worked to the high slot and fired a shot inside the far post for his second career goal.

Shortly after Merzlikins made a few saves in a couple of scrambles, Werenski extended the lead at 13:51 of the third period when he scored on a breakaway chance.

Fantilli rounded out the scoring 53 seconds later. He was left alone at the doorstep and easily finished a setup by Kirill Marchenko.

If the win did not create enough good feelings for the Blue Jackets, captain Boone Jenner, who required shoulder surgery after being injured in practice during training camp, made his season debut and collected one assist.

As well, Joseph LeBate, a 31-year-old winger who played in the KHL last season, was called from the minors and skated in his first NHL game since March 28, 2017.